Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, commonly referred to as ADHD, is a disorder often first diagnosed in childhood. Many diagnosed children continue to experience difficulties with attention, focus, impulsivity and hyperactive behavior into adulthood. Diagnosis as an adult can be more difficult as the criteria must be viewed somewhat differently. According to the National Institute for Mental Health, 4.1 percent of adults between ages 18 and 44 have been diagnosed with ADHD. Bipolar disorder is a condition in which individuals experience severe changes in mood that can range from severe depression to mania or euphoric mood. As reported by the National Institute of Mental Health, it occurs in 2.6 percent of persons over age 18. These conditions may coexist in some individuals.
Symptoms of ADHD in Adults
The criteria for symptoms of ADHD in adults are the same as those used to diagnose children. Adults with ADHD may experience difficulties with attention and/or hyperactive and impulsive behavior. Inattentive symptoms include difficulty staying focused, struggling to organize tasks, paying little attention to detail and making careless mistakes. Other difficulties with attention may manifest as becoming distracted, unable to follow through with directions, forgetting and losing things and seeming not to listen when others are speaking. Symptoms of hyperactivity may include being unable to sit still, constantly moving, feeling restless, seeming always "on the go" and overly talkative. Symptoms of impulsivity may include acting without thinking, interrupting others and struggling to inhibit behavior.
Adult Diagnosis of ADHD
To be diagnosed with ADHD as an adult, an individual must demonstrate that he has been experiencing difficulties with attention, hyperactivity and/or impulsivity since early childhood, before the age of 7. Additionally, symptoms must be prevalent in at least two areas of the individual's life. For example, he must experience symptoms at work and at home, not only in one setting. Furthermore, these symptoms must significantly interfere with the individual's ability to function and be successful. For example, adults with ADHD may lose their job because they are unable to remain focused and complete tasks.
Indications for ADHD Concern
Adults with ADHD may or may not have been diagnosed with the disorder as children. For those who have not, it can feel especially frustrating to struggle with the disorder. Difficulties in these types of tasks may indicate that there is reason for concern and impetus for an individual to seek evaluation. Individuals with symptoms of ADHD may perform poorly at work, unable to remain focused and organized. They may even change jobs regularly. They may struggle financially because they are unable to remain organized in paying bills and managing their finances. Individuals with ADHD may struggle with completing everyday tasks, such as getting ready each morning. They may also have problems in relationships, feel a sense of failure for not completing goals and experience stress for lacking the ability to control their behaviors.
Mood Episodes in Bipolar Disorder
Individuals with bipolar disorder have "mood episodes" that may range from severe depression to mania. Changes in not only mood but also sleep patterns, energy levels and behavior are also present in persons with bipolar disorder. An episode of mania includes feeling euphoric and overly excited. During a manic episode, an individual may talk quickly, unable to put her thoughts into words, seem restless and irritable, be constantly moving and starting new activities, need little sleep and engage in risky or impulsive behavior. A depressive episode includes significantly depressed mood, lack of interest in activities and feeling sad or hopeless. During this type of episode, individuals may lack energy, change their eating and sleeping habits, have thoughts of suicide and feel unable to focus or concentrate. Some individuals experience mixed episodes where they demonstrate symptoms of both depression and mania.
Diagnosis of Bipolar Disorder
The diagnosis of bipolar disorder is difficult as it can manifest in different ways. Some individuals experience only symptoms of mania, some alternate between mania and depression while others may experience hypomania with or without depression. Hypomania is a lesser form of mania, where an individual experiences increased levels of energy and lacks the need for sleep, but his symptoms are not as impairing. Some individuals with bipolar disorder alternate between periods of depression and mania. Each episode may last for several months at a time. Other individuals experience "rapid cycling," alternating between mood episodes much more quickly.
Overlap Between ADHD and Bipolar Disorder
Some individuals may be diagnosed with both ADHD and bipolar disorder. Unfortunately, some are misdiagnosed because the symptoms of the two disorders can overlap or look similar. In mania, individuals may appear distracted, always moving and restless, which may look similar to symptoms of hyperactivity. Also, individuals with ADHD may demonstrate some mood symptoms, but not to the extreme necessary for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder. It is important to ensure that an individual meets the criteria for both of the disorders, rather than just demonstrating symptoms that could be construed as both.
